New To Vet School? How To Make It Through Your First Few Semesters: A Guide

Simone Elkeles once said, ‘the end of one thing is just the beginning of another’. Congratulations on the successful completion of your freshman year in the university and congratulations on crossing over into veterinary school. It would be a smooth sail by God’s grace.

The first year in veterinary school (the second year in the university) could be a bit challenging and rigorous but this article is here to perhaps give you a softer landing so please stay with me. 

BRACE UP FOR A FULL DAY OF CLASSES

Unlike in your freshman year, classes in vet school would be from 8am to 5pm which could be a lot if not properly planned for. 

To do this, have a proper breakfast before leaving for class and pack lunch, or plan to buy food because you only get a one hour break from 1 to 2 between classes. 

PLAN YOUR DAY BEFORE IT STARTS

One thing vet school will teach you to do is to plan and be organized, or else life would happen so fast and you will be overwhelmed. 

To avoid this, plan your day before it even starts. It is most important to plan your after class hours because they set the pace for the next day. In vet school, what you do with every hour counts.

STAY ORGANIZED

It is very important to properly organize your notes to keep track of topics as they come. 

This is because in the midst of the volume of work and countless materials, it is easy to lose track of the topics and materials released in each course. 

Being organized helps you track your reading progress too.

TACKLE BULK IN BITS

Bulky and voluminous materials are a major thing in vet school and adjusting to that might take a while. But for now, manage them by studying everyday and not allowing your materials to pile up.

MAXIMIZE YOUR WEEKENDS

Weekends are an important part of vet school. Because of the volume of work that vet school comes with, you need the weekend to catch up on studying.

ENGAGE WELL WITH PRACTICALS

Practicals are a way to get in touch with what you’re learning in class and cause them to come alive. So, though very stressful, give it full attention and make sure you understand them.

ALWAYS BE READY TO ACE A TEST

Unannounced tests are a thing in vet school. They are jokingly called ‘shot guns’. Try to always mentally prepare for tests as much as you can, and acing them should be the goal because scores are cumulative.

There is so much more you would figure out as you go on this journey. But remember, with hard work and resilience, you will thrive. Wishing you the very best.

BOLUWARIN SHALOM I.